New Jersey tightens the standards:
New Jersey students who do not pass a standardized test would have a tougher time getting high school diplomas, but would have more chances to take the exam under a plan unveiled Wednesday by the state Education Department.Education Commissioner William L. Librera is a longtime critic of the process known as the Special Review Assessment, which allows students to graduate without passing the High School Proficiency Assessment. Now, he wants to phase out that path to graduation. "We think the SRA hurts the very kids it's designed to help," Librera said on a conference call with reporters Wednesday. "It erodes the meaning and integrity of the high school diploma."
The special process was introduced in the 1980s, mostly for special education students. But it's become more widely used. Nearly 20 percent of New Jersey high school students follow the alternate path to graduation _ including about half in 31 poor, mostly urban school districts that get extra attention and money from the state.
"More than half." That's quite a loophole. That's a loophole that needs to be closed. The spring '04 HSPA results are summarized here. For a point of reference, the overview of the language arts literacy segments are here, and some sample math items are given here.
Sample OE ItemEvery Tuesday, at the Dog Deli, the manager gives away free hot dogs and soda. Every sixth customer gets a free soda, and every eighth customer gets a free hot dog. The Dog Deli served 73 customers last Tuesday.
How many free sodas did the Dog Deli give away last Tuesday?
How many hot dogs were given away?
Did any customers receive both a free hot dog and a free soda?
If so, how many customers?
If a soda sells for 99¢ and a hot dog sells for $1.99, how much did the Dog Deli lose in income by giving away these items?Justify your answers.
Does anyone believe that one in five NJ students can't be expected to pass an exam of this type before graduation, and thus deserve a loophole so big that, as the state itself admits, "It is nearly impossible...to monitor the conditions in which the SRA is administered"? Justify your answer.
Posted by kswygert at May 18, 2005 08:10 PM